Evaluation of the thermal conductivity of sandstone solid skeleton using the concept of equivalent microstructure

Acta Geotechnica - We evaluate thermal conductivity of the skeleton of porous sandstone from the measurements of the effective thermal conductivities of dry and saturated specimens provided by...     

Oil/source rock correlations in the Polish Flysch Carpathians and Mesozoic basement and organic facies of the Oligocene Menilite Shales: insights from hydrous pyrolysis experiments

The Oligocene Menilite Shales in the study area in the Polish Flysch Carpathians are organic-rich and contain varying mixtures of Type-II, Type-IIS and Type-III kerogen. The kerogens are thermally immature to marginally mature based on atomic H/C ratios and Rock-Eval data. This study defined three organic facies, i.e., sedimentary strata with differing hydrocarbon-generation potentials due to varying types and concentrations of organic matter. These facies correspond to the Silesian Unit and the eastern and western portions of the Skole Unit. Analysis of oils generated by hydrous pyrolysis of outcrop samples of Menilite Shales demonstrates that natural crude oils reservoired in the flysch sediments appear to have been generated from the Menilite Shales. Natural oils reservoired in the Mesozoic basement of the Carpathian Foredeep appear to be predominantly derived and migrated from Menilite Shales, with a minor contribution from at least one other source rock most probably within Middle Jurassic strata. Definition of organic facies may have been influenced by the heterogeneous distribution of suitable Menilite Shales outcrops and producing wells, and subsequent sample selection during the analytical phases of the study.     

Facies analysis of coal seams from the Cracow Sandstone Series of the Upper Silesia Coal Basin, Poland

The main purpose of this study was to recognise the variability of petrographical structure of two coal seams occurring in the Cracow Sandstone Series (Upper Carboniferous/Pennsylvanian, Upper Westphalian), being exploited in the Siersza mine. This mine is located in the eastern part of the Upper Silesia Coal Basin (USCB). The chemical analyses and petrographical features allow the inclusion of these coals to the group of hard brown coals belonging to subbituminous class.Two coal seams (207 and 209/210) of a considerable thickness (7.44 and 6.54 m, respectively), representative of the Cracow Sandstone Series (CSS), were chosen for the petrographic studies. Dominant macroscopic constituents of both seams are banded bright coal and banded coal.The coal seams were sampled in 284 intervals using a channel profile sampling strategy. The microscopical examinations revealed the majority of macerals from the vitrinite group (55%), followed by inertinite (21%), liptinite (11%), and mineral matter (13%). Low values of the vitrinite reflectance (R_o=0.46%) confirm very low coalification of the coal in both seams. Facies analysis indicates that in the course of a mire development, in which the studied coal seams originated, wet forest swamp conditions dominated characterized by a high degree of flooding and gelification as well as by a prevalence of arborescent plants. In such conditions, lithotypes with a large content of bright coal were mainly formed. Petrographic and facies data point to the rheotrophic character of these peatbogs. Frequent changes of the conditions in the peatbog, as it is shown by the variability of petrographic structure of the studied profiles, as well as by lateral changes of the phytogenic sedimentary environment within the coal seams, indicate a strong influence of a river channel on the adjoining peatbogs. An accretion of clastic sediments within the wide river channel belts was balanced mainly by the peatbog growth on the areas outside channels. Frequency and rate of avulsion of the river channels influenced the size, continuity and variability of the peatbogs.     

Investigating the micro mechanics of cemented sand using DEM

The discrete element method has been used to investigate the micro mechanics of cemented sand. High‐pressure drained triaxial tests are modelled in 3D using a flexible membrane that allows the correct deformation to develop. Simulations with up to 12 MPa confining pressure are presented, which are compared with laboratory experiments on a sand with a range of cement contents. Cementation is modelled using ‘parallel bonds’, and various parameters and strength distributions are investigated. Varying levels of cementation are successfully modelled, with the correct qualitative behaviour observed and the separate effects of cementation and confining pressures demonstrated. The triaxial behaviour is found to be highly influenced by the distribution of bond strengths. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Groundwater hydrochemistry and soil pollution in a catchment affected by an abandoned lead–zinc mine: functioning of a diffuse pollution source

The importance of polluted alluvial soils as a potential diffuse source of heavy metals was investigated in a catchment of the Matylda stream affected by an abandoned lead and zinc ore mine in Upper Silesia, southern Poland. This was attempted by means of standard groundwater analyses performed together with measurements of Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations in soil and groundwater. The Matylda stream, receiving mine water, was converted in the 20th century into a straight channel directed in its middle reach over the valley bottom. This changed the drainage direction of the Matylda stream water. During mining operations, groundwater seepage, combined with surface drainage by shallow ditches caused pollution of sandy soils exceeding over 100 mg/kg of Cd, 24% of Zn and 4% of Pb at surface or subsurface soil horizons, and reaching at least 60 cm in depth. After mine closure in the 1970s, the network of ditches appears to be a source of Ca, Mg, chlorides, carbonates and nitrates, as indicated by the more or less regular increase of these major ion concentrations in groundwater down ditches. Whereas, the ditches are a sink rather than a source of zinc, cadmium and lead in permanently dry reaches, or transition zones in reaches with surface water flowing periodically. The metal concentrations and distribution in soil and groundwater suggest the slow mobilization of heavy metals stored in the valley bottom and the minor importance of soil as a diffuse source for surface water pollution.     

Microstructure measures and the minimum size of a representative volume element: 2D numerical study

In the paper, a numerical study of the size of a representative volume element (RVE) for both the heat flow as well as the linear elasticity problems is presented. A particular two-phase random microstructure is studied and the method is applied to the digital image of reconstructed 2D realization of random media. The minimum size of RVE is determined by the investigation of the convergence of apparent properties as the size of RVE is increasing. Then, two estimates of the minimum RVE size are proposed and it is shown that the estimates are in a good agreement with the results determined by the investigation of the convergence of apparent properties. The minimum size of RVE can be successfully predicted based only on the microstructure morphology. The statistical measures used in this work are: the two-point probability and the linealpath functions.     

Changes in thermal extremes in Poland

Changes in thermal extremes of the climate of Poland in 1951–2010 are examined. Warm extremes have become more frequent, while cold extremes have become less frequent. In the warming climate of Poland, the increase in the number of extremely warm days in a year and the decrease in the number of extremely cold days in a year have been observed. Also the increase of the maximum number of consecutive hot days in a year and the decrease of the maximum number of consecutive very cold and extremely cold days in a year have been observed. However, the trends are not of ubiquitous statistic significance, as the natural variability is strong.     

Petroleum source rock evaluation of the Alum and Dictyonema Shales (Upper Cambrian–Lower Ordovician) in the Baltic Basin and Podlasie Depression (eastern Poland)

International Journal of Earth Sciences - We present geochemical characteristics of the Lower Palaeozoic shales deposited in the Baltic Basin and Podlasie Depression. In the study area, this strata...     

Effect of the North Atlantic Oscillation on the Thermal Characteristics of Lakes in Poland

This paper presents the effect of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the thermal characteristics of lakes in Poland. In the analysis, the use was made of monthly air temperatures recorded at fifteen meteorological stations, water temperatures of twelve lakes, and Hurrell’s winter NAO indices. Over the study period (1971–2010), there was a marked increase in the temperatures of both, air and lake waters. Depending on the NAO phase, water temperatures were observed to depart from mean values, being markedly higher than average (even by 1°C) in the positive winter NAO phase. The differences in water temperatures were statistically significant in the winter-spring season. In turn, in the negative NAODJFM phase lake water temperatures in winter and spring were markedly lower than average (in March even by 1.0°C). The unique response of some lakes depends on their morphometric parameters, including their mean depth.